Flush panel knob construction



July 1-, 1958 Filed Nov. 10, 1954 J. YOUNG ETAL FLUSH PANEL KNOBcons'mucnon 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.4A.

INVENTORS JULIUS YOUNG BY BENJAMIN W.OOLMAN R MW ATTORNEY J. YOUNG EIALFLUSH PANEL KNOB CONSTRUCTION July 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.10, 1954 FIG.6.

FIG.7.

FIG.2A.

FIGJO.

FIG.8.

INVENTORS JULIUS YOUNG BY BENJAMIN W. COLMAN ATTORNEY United States Patet FLUSH PANEL KNOB CONSTRUCTION Julius Young, Detroit, and Benjamin W.Colman, Berkley, Mich.

Application November 10, 1954, Serial No. 468,944

21 Claims. (Cl. 74--504) This invention relates to flush panelconstruction and more particularly to a construction in which knobs orhandles or similar manually or digitally operated parts are employed.

The invention provides for a construction in which knobs or handles arenecessary components and are arranged to lie flush with the panelframing into which they are set for use. The knobs or handles aresurrounded by a recess panel that recedes under finger pressure into anopening or a recess chamber in the panel construction, against theresilient pressure of a spring or section of foam rubber or similarmeans, so that the fingers may come into manual manipulating contact andcontrol of the knob or handle, as the case may be. When the fingers arewithdrawn from the knob or handle, the recess panel moves forward underthe pressure of the spring or other resilient means to assume itsinitial fiush alignment with the outer panel in which it is located.

The invention provides a construction in which knobs or handles may beemployed that are flush with the panel in which they are used orrequired. Simple examples and applications in which the invention servesare television sets, radio sets, automobile dashboards, automobiledoors, electrical and gas household appliances of all types, furni-.ture chests and cabinets, .and a large host of equipment employingprojecting knobs or handles or both.

Some of the problems generally incident to the use of projecting knobsor handles in a television or radio set or other appliances and devicesare the difficulty and expense of protecting the device in packing andshipping, the high rate of damage to projecting knobs and handles intransit, storage and use, damage often .done to clothing and the personby projecting knobs and handles, and the often unpleasing appearancemade by such projections in a beautiful piece of furniture.

At the present time, there is a positive need for improvements in theexterior appearance of various devices, for the reasons above given..These problems are con stantly being confronted in the design ofappliances and devices, and the invention here disclosed provides apositive structural solution therefor.

The instant invention provides a flush panel construction that includesan opening or recess within which a knob or handle is located. The knobmay be movable in a rotative fashion, fixed, or otherwise manipulatable,Land the handle may be fixed in place or operative in one manner oranother. The common feature in all of these arrangements is that aprotecting and finishing plate or panel about the digital end of theknob .or handle is movable and shiftable into the opening or recess orrecess chamber of the outer panel, so that the knob or handle may begrasped by the fingers. Upon release of the fingers ice parent from thedescription given below. For a visual understanding of the invention,reference maybe had to the accompanying drawings made an integral parthereof, and in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of an outer panel in which variousknob and handle arrangements are embodied. The view may also beconsidered as severable for one or more of the arrangements shown.

Figs. 2 through 6, inclusive, are vertical sectional views taken on thelines 2-2, 33, 4-4, 55, and 6-6, respectively, of the elevational viewof Fig. 1.

Figs. 2a, 4a, and 5a are vertical sectional views similar to Figs. 2, 4,and 5, respectively, showing the recess or protecting panels of therespective arrangements in recessed positions in the flush panelconstruction.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing amodified form of the recess panel, as it surrounds a flanged knobserving as a forward stop for-the recess panel.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing'anothermodified form of the recess panel, as it is arranged within the recessframing which serves as a forward stop for the recess panel.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing the useof foam or sponge rubber, or similar resilient material, in place of acoiled helical spring.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional View similar to Fig. 2, showing anothermodified form of the flush panel construction in which the recesschamber of the outer panel is not required, and in which a simpleopening in the outer panel serves to locate the inventive construction.

As shown in several views of the drawing, a flush panel constructionembodying several forms of the generic invention provides for an outerpanel 10, an opening or recess or recessed chamber 12, a recess orprotecting and finishing panel- 14, a resilient spring 16, and amanually or digitally manipulatable and operable part, such as a knob orhandle, located in the chamber 12, and to be specifically referred tobelow.

Figs. 1, 2, 2a and 9 show a round rotatable control knob 18 arrangedwith a shaft 20 passed through a bearing portion of the chamber backwall 22 of the panel recess 12. Upon pressing the panel 14 back intorecess chamber 12 with the fingers, control knob 18 may be grasped androtated according to need. In a radio or television set, such a knobwould control means to adjust power, station, sound, etc. In anelectrical appliance, such a knob would control means operating anon-oif switch, operating speeds, cycles, and a wide variety of functionspresently controlled by knobs and handles. Upon release of the knob 18,the panel 14 springs back into its original position substantially inthe plane of the digital end of knob 18 and outer panel 10. The flushposition of the recess panel 14 may be achieved by means of a spring 16,as in Figs. 2 and 2a, or by an annular ring of sponge rubber 24, Fig. 9;or modifications in the correlated knob, recess panel and outer panelmay be provided, as in Figs. 7 and 8.

The spring 16 is provided for most of the constructions shown, whereinupon full free expansion of the spring, the panel 14 is placed flushwith the outer panel 10. This requires that the tension, expansion andcontraction of spring 16 be carefully controlled, as the flush alignmentof panels 10 and 14 is directly controlled by and related to thesecharacteristics of spring 16. Foam or sponge rubber 24 may serve assatisfactorily as a metallic coiled spring in some instances and is hereshown as an alternative resilient means.

In order to provide a positive forward stop for recess panel 14, theknob 30 in Fig. 7 is provided with a flange 32 adapted to seat incounterbore 34 of the recess panel 35. Thus, the recess panel 36 willcome to a positive flush alignment with the outer panel 10 regardless ofthe excessive expansion of spring 16 urging it against knob flange 32.

Similarly, as an alternative modified construction of the basicconstruction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 8 shows an outer panel 40provided with a flange 42 projecting over the perimeter of recess 44.Recess panel 46 is arranged with an outer step or recessed flange 48complementing flange 42, so that upon release of panel 46 it will assumea seated flush position about flange 42, being urged thereto by spring16.

A second knob construction is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in which aprotecting and finishing recess panel 56 is arranged with serrations 52about its central bore. A knob 54 having splines 56 about its periphery,complementing the panel serrations 52, is centrally disposed in thepanel bore. The recess panel 50 is designed to rotate with knob 54 as itis manually turned on its axis in. recess 12. As in the precedingdescription, panel 50 is urged inwardly by finger pressure so that thesplined knob 54 may be grasped by the fingers and manipulated about itsaxis. Upon release, panel 59 springs back to assume its initial flushalignment with outer panel 10, under urging of spring 16.

The modifications of a flanged knob as in Fig. 7, a flanged outer panelas in Fig. 8, and the use of a foam rubber means as in Fig. 9, are alsoapplicable to the splined knob construction of Figs. 1 and 3.

A third knob construction is shown in Figs. 1, and 5a, in which apush-pull type of knob 60 is arranged in a recess panel 62. The knob 60shown is merely one of several types of such knobs which may be employedand is considered merely illustrative of the construction. In the formshown, a projecting boss 64 extends concentrically about knob shaft 66,which in the flush position of the digital end of knob 60, Fig. 6, liesbeyond the recess back wall 22, and in the pulled out position, Fig. 5a,lies forward of wall 22 and in the recess 12. Knob 60 is operated byurging recess panel 62 against spring 16 until the knob can be grippedby the fingers and pulled forward of the outer panel plane. When knob 60is to be reset, it is simply pushed inwardly until it lies in thechamber 12 with its digital end adjacent'the plane of outer panel asinitially aligned.

Here again, the modifications of a flanged knob as in Fig. 7, a flangedouter panel as in Fig. 8, and the use of sponge or foam rubber as inFig. 9, are applicable to the push-pull knob construction of Figs. 1 and5.

A basic flush handle construction is shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 4a, inwhich a handle grip 70 is arranged flush with outer panel 10. A fingeropening 72 is provided behind grip 70 in recess chamber 12. A recesspanel 74, urged into flush alignment with outer panel 10 by spring 16,surrounds the digital end of handle grip 74 Protecting and finishingpanel 74 is urged inwardly by finger pressure until grip 70 may begrasped by the fingers. Upon release of handle grip 70, recess panel 74assumes its initial flush alignment with outer panel 10. Although handlegrip 70 is shown as an elongated grip, it is to be understood that itmay take other forms such as a round knob or an oval or irregularlyshaped knob or finger grip. Handle grip 70 is arranged in fixed form,being secured to the recess rear wall 22 by suitable means.

The modifications of a flanged handle grip comparable to the flangedknob as in Fig. 7, a flanged outer panel as in Fig. 8, and the use ofsponge or foam rubber as in Fig. 9, are'also applicable to the flushhandle construction of Figs. 1 and 4.

In Fig. 10, the flush panel construction comprises an outer panel 80having an opening in which is located a protecting and finishing panel82 which is movable inwardly of the panel 80. A knob 84, having arotatable movement, is mounted on a base (not shown). Panel 82 isshiftable against a spring 86 which is backed up against a flange 88 atthe proximal end of knob 84. In

this construction, the panel 80 is not provided with a recess chamber asin the above described arrangements.

It will be observed that the panel recess chambers above described serveas guide recesses, or as a guide and spring operating recess, or as asupport for functional and operating parts or various combinations ofthese functions.

In all of the constructions and arrangements here disclosed, the commonfeatures of construction include an outer panel, an opening or recess inthe outer panel in which is mounted, fixedly or movably, a digitallygripped part having its digital end arranged adjacent the plane of theouter panel, and a movable recess or protecting panel arranged aroundthe operating parts digital end shiftable inwardly of the opening orrecess, the recess panel being urged into flush alignment with the outerpanel by resilient means contained within the recess or opening.

It will be apparent that the protecting and finishing or recess panelsshown are merely illustrative of basic forms which they may take, theseforms being modifiable according to particular applications. Thesplined'knob 54 may be modified so that only a single longitudinalspline is arranged on its outer periphery. The handle grip may not becompletely cut through with a finger opening 72, but may have merelyupper and lower finger depressions. The outer panel 10 has been shown asa single element for several of the forms of finger gripped operatingparts as a simple means of illustrating the inventive construction. Itmay be reduced to individual or coupled units of construction withoutdeparting from the essence of the invention. The recess chamber 12 maybe arranged for a single or multiple knobs and/or handles. Various otherchanges and variations within the skill of those in the art to which theinvention pertains are to be understood as encompassed within theinvention and the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device having a manually or digitally operated part, anenclosing panel having an opening, an operating part having a projectingend terminating in said opening, spaced apart from the perimeter of saidopening and adjacent the outer plane of said panel, and a protecting andfinishing plate movably mounted in the compass of said opening aroundsaid projecting end and in the plane of said outer panel, said platebeing shiftable inwardly to permit grasping of said operating part.

2. In an apparatus having manually operable controls, an outer panelhaving an opening, an operating part mounted for movement relative tosaid panel having a projecting end spaced apart from the perimeter ofsaid opening and terminating in said opening adjacent the plane of saidpanel, and a protecting and finishing plate movably mounted in thecompass of said opening around said projecting end and in the plane ofsaid outer panel, said plate being shiftable inwardly to permit manualmanipulation of said operating part.

3. A flush panel construction comprising an outer panel, a recesschamber in said outer panel, an inwardly shiftable recess panel arrangedflush with said outer panel, resilient means in said recess chamberurging said recess panel into flush alignment with said outer panel, andan operating part in said recess chamber terminating at its outer endsubstantially flush with said outer and recess panels, said recess panelmounted in said chamber around said outer end of said part, the exteriorpanel surfaces of said outer panel, recess panel and operating partbeing substantially flush aligned and presenting a substantiallycontinuous uniplanar outer appearance.

4. A flush panel construction comprising an outer panel, a recesschamber in said panel having back, top, bottom and side walls, a recesspanel movably mounted in and substantially covering said recess chamberand flush aligned with said outer panel, resilient means in said recesschamber between said'back wall and said recess panel, and a manuallyoperating part in said recess chamber terminating at its outer endadjacent the outer plane of said outer and recess panels, said recesspanel mounted in said chamber around said outer end of said part, theexterior panel surfaces of said outer panel, recess panel and operatingpart being substantially flush aligned and presenting a substantiallycontinuous uniplanar outer appearance.

5.' A flush panel construction comprising an outer substantiallyuniplanar panel, a recessed chamber in said panel, a recess panelmovably mounted in and substantially covering said chamber, shiftableinto said chamber, and arranged flush with said outer panel, resilientmeans in said chamber urging said recess panel into flush alignment withsaid outer panel, and a manually or digitally operated part in saidchamber terminating at its outer end adjacent the outer plane of saidouter and recess panels and located within the perimeter of said recesschamber, the exterior panel surfaces of said outer panel,

recess panel and manually operated part being flushaligned andpresenting a substantially continuous uniplanar outer appearance. I

6. The flush panel construction defined in claim 5, in which saidresilient means comprises a coiled helical spring.

7. In a device having a manually or digitally operated part, an outerpanel having an opening, an operating part having its outer endterminating in said opening substantially adjacent the outer plane ofsaid panel and spaced apart from the perimeter of said opening, aprotecting and finishing panel movably mounted in the compass of saidopening around said outer end of said part, substantially flush withsaid outer panel and shiftable inwardly to permit grasping of saidoperating part, and resilient means in said opening behind saidprotecting panel urging said panel into flush alignment with said outerpanel.

8. In a device having a manually or digitally operated part, an outersubstantially uniplanar panel having an opening therein, an operatingpart in said opening mounted for movement relative to said panel andhaving its digital end spaced apart from the perimeter of said openingand terminating in said opening substantially adjacent the plane of saidpanel, a protecting and finishing panel movably mounted in the compassof said opening around said digital end of said part, substantiallyaligned with the plane of said outer panel and shiftable inwardly topermit grasping of said operating part, and

resilient means in said opening bearing on said protecting panel andurging said panel toward flush alignment With said outer panel.

9. In an appliance having a manually or digitally operated knob, anouter substantially uniplanar panel having a recessed chamber therein, adigitally operated knob in said chamber mounted for movement relative tosaid panel having its digital end terminating in said chambersubstantially adjacent the plane of said panel, a recess panel movablymounted in said chamber around said digital end of said knob,substantially aligned with the plane of said outer panel and shiftableinwardly to permit grasping of said knob, and resilient means in saidchamber bearing on said recess panel and urging said recess panel towardflush alignment with said outer panel and said knobs digital end.

10. In an appliance having a manually or digitally operated knob, anouter panel having an opening, a digitally operated rotatable knob insaid opening mounted for rotative movement and having its digital endspaced apart from the perimeter of said opening and terminating in saidopening substantially adjacent the plane of said panel, a protecting andfinishing panel movably mounted in the compass of said opening aroundsaid digital end and in the plane of said outer panel, said protectingpanel being shiftable inwardly to permit manual manipulation of saidknob, and resilient means in said opening bearing on said protectingpanel and urging said panel toward flush alignment with said outerpanel.

-11. A flush panel construction comprising an outer panel having arecess chamber, a recess panel movable in said chamber and arrangedflush with said outer panel, resilient means in said chamber bearing onsaid recess panel urging said recess panel into flush alignment withsaid outer panel, and a manually operable, rotatable means in saidchamber arranged flush with said outer and recess panels and locatedwithin the perimeter of said recess panel, the exterior panel surfacesof said outer panel, recess panel and rotatable means being flushaligned and presenting a substantially continuous uniplanar outerappearance.

T2. in a device having manually operated controls, an outer panel havinga recessed chamber, a manually operated rotatable splined knob in saidchamber mounted for rotative movement and having its digital endterminating in said chamber adjacent the plane of said panel, a recesspanel movably mounted in said chamber around said digital end of saidsplined knob, substantially aligned with the plane of said outer paneland shiftable inwardly to permit grasping of said splined knob, andresilient means in said chamber bearing on said recess panel and urgingsaid recess panel toward flush alignment with said outer panel.

13. A flush panel construction comprising an outer panel having a recesschamber, a panel substantially covering said chamber, movable in saidchamber and arranged fiush with said outer panel, resilient means insaid chamber bearing on said recess panel urging said recess panel intoflush alignment with said outer panel, and a manually operable splinedpart in said chamber arranged flush with said outer and recess panelsand located within the perimeter of said recess panel, said recess panelhaving serrations complementing said splined part and closely adjacentthereto, the exterior panel surfaces of said outer panel, recess paneland splined part being flush aligned and presenting a substantiallycontinuous uniplanar outer appearance.

14. In a device having manually or digitally operated controls, an outerpanel having a recessed chamber, a manually operated part mounted insaid chamber and movable on an axis substantially normal to the plane ofsaid outer panel, said part having its digital end terminating in saidchamber adjacent the plane of said outer panel, a recess panel movablymounted in said chamber around said digital end, substantially alignedwith the plane of said outer panel and shiftable inwardly to permitgrasping of said part, and resilient means in said chamber hearing onsaid recess panel and urging said recess panel toward flush alignmentwith said outer panel.

15. The construction defined in claim 14, in which said manuallyoperated part has its digital end movable outwardly of said chamber andbeyond the plane of said outer panel along said axis.

16. A flush panel construction comprising an outer panel, a recesschamber in said outer panel, a recess panel movable in said chamber,resilient means in said chamber bearing on said recess panel urging saidrecess panel into flush alignment with said outer panel, and a manuallyoperable part in said chamber having its digital end arranged flush withsaid outer and recess panels and located within the perimeter of saidrecess panel, said part being arranged to have its digital end move outof and to return into said chamber, the exterior panel surfaces of saidouter panel, recess panel and operable part being flush aligned andpresenting a substantially continuous uniplanar outer appearance.

17. In a device having manually or digitally operated controls, an outerpanel having a recessed chamber, a manually operated control knobmounted for movement relative to said panel having its digital endterminating in said chamber adjacent the plane of said outer panel, saidknob having a flange at said digital end, a protecting and finishingpanel movably mountedin said chamber around said flanged digital end,said panel having a counterbored section complementing and seating saidfianged digital end therein, said panel being shiftable inwardly topermit grasping of said control knob, and resilient means in saidchamber bearing on said protecting panel and urging said protectingpanel toward flush alignment with said outer panel.

18. A flush panel construction comprising an outer panel having a recesschamber, a recess panel movable in said chamber and arranged flush withsaid outer panel, resilient means in said chamber bearing on said recesspanel urging said recess panel into flush alignment with said outerpanel, and a manually operable part in said chamber having its digitalend flush with said outer and recess panels and located within theperimeter of said recess panel, said part having a flange at its digitalend, said recess panel having a counterbored seat complementing saidflange and seating said flange therein, the exterior panel surfaces ofsaid outer panel, recess panel and flanged part being flush aligned andpresenting a substantially continuous uniplanar outer appearance.

19. In a device having manually or digitally operated controls, an outerpanel having a recessed chamber, said outer panel haviuga flangeextending in the plane of said panel over the peripheral outer edge ofsaid chamber, a manually operated control part mounted for movementrelative to said panel having its digital end terminating in saidchamber adjacent the plane of said outer panel, a protecting andfinishing panel movably mounted in said chamber around said digital end,shiftable inwardly to permit manual manipulation of said control partand having a peripheral recessed stepped flange complementing andseating said outer panel flange therein, and resilient means in saidchamber bearing on said protecting panel and urging said protectingpanel toward flush alignment with said outer panel.

'20. Aflush panel construction comprisingan outer panel having a recesschamber, said outer panel having a flange in the plane of said panelextending over the peripheral outer edge of said chamber, a recess panelin saidchambcr arranged flush with said outer panel and shiftable intosaid chamber, said recess panel having a peripheral steppedflanged edgecomplementing said outer panelflange and seating said flange therein,resilient means in said chamber bearing on said recess panel urging saidrecess panel into flush alignment with said outer panel, and a manuallyoperable part in said chamber having its digitalend arranged flush withsaid outer and recess panels and located within the perimeter of saidchamher, the exterior panel surfaces of said outer panel, recess paneland operable part being flush aligned and pre scnting a substantiallycontinuous uniplanar outer appearunce.

21. A flush panel construction comprising an outer panel having anopening, a recess panel movable in said opening and arranged flush withsaid outer panel, resilient means in said opening bearing on said recesspanel urging said recess panel into flush alignment with said outerpanel, and a manually operated part in said opening having its digitalend arranged flush with said outer and recess panels and located withinand spaced from the perimeter of said opening, said recess panelcovering the space encompassed by said opening between said outer paneland said digital end of said operating part and being inwardly shiftableabout said operating part, the exterior panel surfaces of said outerpanel, recess panel and manually operated part being flush aligned andpresenting a substantially continuous uniplanar outer appearance.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS473,686 Williams Apr. 26, 1892 1,947,282 Theis Feb. 13, 1934 2,165,060Krug July 4, 1939 2,704,466 Way Mar.'22, 1955

